Tropeano rejoins rotation, Chacin to 'pen

BOSTON -- Nick Tropeano is rejoining the Angels' rotation, starting Monday's series opener against the Rays at Tropicana Field, and Jhoulys Chacin has been demoted to the bullpen, a sequence of events that had been anticipated over the last couple of days.

BOSTON -- Nick Tropeano is rejoining the Angels' rotation, starting Monday's series opener against the Rays at Tropicana Field, and Jhoulys Chacin has been demoted to the bullpen, a sequence of events that had been anticipated over the last couple of days.

"I'm fine with it," Chacin said before the Angels' 10-5 loss to the Red Sox. "I know the last few games I haven't done my job. Honestly, I don't feel bad that they sent me to the bullpen. I actually feel good that they have confidence in me to keep me on the team."

Chacin was acquired from the Braves for low-level Minor League pitcher Adam McCreery on May 11 and pitched decently early on, with seven innings of two-run ball against the Mariners on May 14 and a complete game against the Tigers on May 30.

Since then, though, the 28-year-old right-hander has an 8.78 ERA over a six-start stretch. He's allowed 44 hits, issued 19 walks and struck out only 11 in 26 2/3 innings, and his ERA for the season is 5.87.

Angels manager Mike Scioscia said one of Chacin's biggest issues is "his ability to repeat a pitch with consistency so he can set his pitches up," to which Chacin agreed.

Chacin walked 17 in 22 innings in June, prompting him to tweak his release point with the hopes of throwing strikes more consistently. But now his mechanics are out of whack. He can't repeat his delivery and he isn't getting enough extension on his pitches, a major issue when he allowed 12 hits in 4 2/3 innings in a loss to the Red Sox on Friday.

Chacin believes pitching out of the bullpen could help him get a better feel for his pitches without having to worry about facing a lineup two or three times over.

He's happy they at least kept him on the roster.

"When you don't do your job, you have to be ready for anything," Chacin said. "But maybe it'll be a good experience. Maybe my velocity will go up, maybe my focus will be heightened. And when they give me another opportunity, hopefully I'll be ready."

Worth noting

• Tyler Skaggs threw 51 of his 73 pitches for strikes in a five-inning start for Triple-A Salt Lake on Saturday night, giving up just two runs on six hits and no walks while striking out six. The stadium gun had Skaggs' fastball at 91-95 mph, and Scioscia said he did a better job of maintaining his stuff late. The 24-year-old left-hander may pitch six innings during his next scheduled start Thursday.

• Carlos Perez sat Sunday, after going 5-for-6 with a home run and six RBIs on Saturday. But that was only because the Angels were playing a day game after a night game and catchers rarely start both. Perez played Friday and Saturday, after the off-day, and it's become clear that Jett Bandy will be the one sent to Triple-A when Geovany Soto makes his anticipated return from the disabled list Tuesday.

• The Angels signed three additional players on the international front Sunday, giving them six for this period. Added to the organization were Venezuelan right-hander Tulio Santa Maria (16 years old), Venezuelan outfielder Luis Diaz (16) and Dominican right-hander Yogeiry Villar (17). Signing bonuses were not released. The Angels can't sign any player for more than $300,000 because of their deal with Roberto Baldoquin.